Power Adjustments in Flash - is it important

DJey · 03-13-2008, 08:04 PM

Hi guys,

Am thinking of getting a flash and Sigma EF 530 DG ST seems to be ok.. cheap, good power and p-ttl.. Problem is that it has only 2 steps in power adjustments.. Full power (1/1) and 1/16..

Is it really important to have more power adjustments? If so, what are its uses..

Thanks,

Jay2

roscot · 03-14-2008, 04:26 AM

The EF530 DG Super will have manual power steps at 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. It will also do everything the Pentax 540 will do. It might be a better choice for you.

mattdm · 03-14-2008, 05:11 AM

[QUOTE=mattdm
I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.[/QUOTE]

Huh. So, this was one of the first days since I got the flash where it was nice enough to be outside shooting with it, and the Metz 48 AF-1 can indeed do HSS in Av mode. I was quite sure it hadn't when I tested it before, and I'm pretty sure I was doing everything right. I had the ISO at 1600 and was pretty sure I wasn't hitting the limit, but maybe the program behaves differently in low light. (Maybe not enough flash power in HSS? Dunno.) Anyway, I'll have to retest. And that throws suspicion on my finding the Sigma to not work in Av either....

benplaut · 03-14-2008, 05:43 AM

Is it important?
It is absolutely essential. Really.

For now, you'll be ok--leave it on the camera with P-TTL and fire away. A little longer from now and you'll suddenly become fascinated by David Hobby's Strobist blog (don't we all?). Then, full manual is required.

All the cool kids have older Nikon flashes that go down to 1/128, and I'm proud to be one of them

egordon99 · 03-14-2008, 08:58 AM

My 540 fired away in HSS/PTTL without any problems in Av. That's how I used it outside when I needed fill flash.

Originally posted by mattdm

I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.

mattdm · 03-14-2008, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by egordon99

My 540 fired away in HSS/PTTL without any problems in Av. That's how I used it outside when I needed fill flash.

With the Sigma flash and now the Metz flash, the it'll fire away fine — but with shutter speed capped at 1/180, even when the flash is in HSS mode.

Rusty · 03-14-2008, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by mattdm

I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.

Yes it does. I just took some daylight shots in AV mode with the 540 set to HS (I always use HS - even indoors) and it used shutter speed of 1/2500.

Rusty

mattdm · 03-14-2008, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by Rusty

Yes it does. I just took some daylight shots in AV mode with the 540 set to HS (I always use HS - even indoors) and it used shutter speed of 1/2500.

Of course, since the K10D manual says it'll only work in M or Tv mode, the Metz and Sigma flashes are, by the letter, compatible with the documented HSS feature.

Does it work in P mode with the Pentax flash?

And for that matter, what does the K20D manual say?

Rusty · 03-14-2008, 11:20 PM

No it doesn't. Shutter speed defaults to 1/180.

Rusty

Rusty · 03-15-2008, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by mattdm

And for that matter, what does the K20D manual say?

Just checked the K20D manual and it says the same as the K10D word for word. Neither says that it will work with Av even though it works perfectly.

Just to double check, I did another test with these results:

P 180
Sv 180
Tv 800
Av 400
TAv 180
M 1000

QED!

Rusty

mattdm · 03-15-2008, 08:04 PM

Thanks so much, Rusty!

(And thanks everyone else for letting me hijack your thread....)

yeedub · 03-16-2008, 01:11 AM

I have a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash and it does high-speed sync with my k10d, no problem. I can go way faster than just 1/180.

Originally posted by mattdm

I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.

blwnhr · 03-17-2008, 03:06 AM

I find it really really handy. Just yesterday I was out shooting, needed fill flash, PTTL couldn't handle it and the only option was to switch to full manual and bump the flash down to 1/16th.

Very important IMO.

mattdm · 03-17-2008, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by yeedub

I have a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash and it does high-speed sync with my k10d, no problem. I can go way faster than just 1/180.

In Av mode, though? Mine only worked in Tv and M mode (matching the K10D manual.)

DJey · 03-17-2008, 06:48 PM

Thanks guys!

03-13-2008, 08:04 PM	#1
DJey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 284	Power Adjustments in Flash - is it important Hi guys, Am thinking of getting a flash and Sigma EF 530 DG ST seems to be ok.. cheap, good power and p-ttl.. Problem is that it has only 2 steps in power adjustments.. Full power (1/1) and 1/16.. Is it really important to have more power adjustments? If so, what are its uses.. Thanks, Jay2

03-14-2008, 05:11 AM	#3
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	[QUOTE=mattdm I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.[/QUOTE] Huh. So, this was one of the first days since I got the flash where it was nice enough to be outside shooting with it, and the Metz 48 AF-1 can indeed do HSS in Av mode. I was quite sure it hadn't when I tested it before, and I'm pretty sure I was doing everything right. I had the ISO at 1600 and was pretty sure I wasn't hitting the limit, but maybe the program behaves differently in low light. (Maybe not enough flash power in HSS? Dunno.) Anyway, I'll have to retest. And that throws suspicion on my finding the Sigma to not work in Av either.... Last edited by mattdm; 03-22-2008 at 06:01 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Manual power levels with an Auto Flash	Class A	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	1	11-26-2009 09:57 PM
Fastest flash duration + flash power	reknelb	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	7	10-14-2009 08:05 PM
Available light vs Flash - Old power plant	gawan	Post Your Photos!	19	08-06-2009 01:58 PM
Changing power of on-board K20D Flash....	dbphotography	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	05-30-2009 09:05 AM
Power pack for 540 flash	RussellW	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	0	08-10-2008 06:38 PM

03-14-2008, 04:26 AM	#2
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	The EF530 DG Super will have manual power steps at 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. It will also do everything the Pentax 540 will do. It might be a better choice for you.

03-14-2008, 05:43 AM	#4
benplaut Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central NY Posts: 268	Is it important? It is absolutely essential. Really. For now, you'll be ok--leave it on the camera with P-TTL and fire away. A little longer from now and you'll suddenly become fascinated by David Hobby's Strobist blog (don't we all?). Then, full manual is required. All the cool kids have older Nikon flashes that go down to 1/128, and I'm proud to be one of them

03-14-2008, 08:58 AM	#5
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	My 540 fired away in HSS/PTTL without any problems in Av. That's how I used it outside when I needed fill flash. Originally posted by mattdm I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.

03-14-2008, 09:08 AM	#6
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by egordon99 My 540 fired away in HSS/PTTL without any problems in Av. That's how I used it outside when I needed fill flash. With the Sigma flash and now the Metz flash, the it'll fire away fine — but with shutter speed capped at 1/180, even when the flash is in HSS mode.

03-14-2008, 04:00 PM	#7
Rusty Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Originally posted by mattdm I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't. Yes it does. I just took some daylight shots in AV mode with the 540 set to HS (I always use HS - even indoors) and it used shutter speed of 1/2500. Rusty

03-14-2008, 07:16 PM	#8
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Rusty Yes it does. I just took some daylight shots in AV mode with the 540 set to HS (I always use HS - even indoors) and it used shutter speed of 1/2500. Of course, since the K10D manual says it'll only work in M or Tv mode, the Metz and Sigma flashes are, by the letter, compatible with the documented HSS feature. Does it work in P mode with the Pentax flash? And for that matter, what does the K20D manual say?

03-14-2008, 11:20 PM	#9
Rusty Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	No it doesn't. Shutter speed defaults to 1/180. Rusty

03-15-2008, 07:47 PM	#10
Rusty Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Originally posted by mattdm And for that matter, what does the K20D manual say? Just checked the K20D manual and it says the same as the K10D word for word. Neither says that it will work with Av even though it works perfectly. Just to double check, I did another test with these results: P 180 Sv 180 Tv 800 Av 400 TAv 180 M 1000 QED! Rusty

03-15-2008, 08:04 PM	#11
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Thanks so much, Rusty! (And thanks everyone else for letting me hijack your thread....)

03-16-2008, 01:11 AM	#12
yeedub Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 78	I have a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash and it does high-speed sync with my k10d, no problem. I can go way faster than just 1/180. Originally posted by mattdm I'm told the Pentax flashes can do high-speed sync in Av mode, although I haven't confirmed this since I don't have a Pentax flash. The Sigma and Metz flashes won't.

03-17-2008, 03:06 AM	#13
blwnhr Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 663	I find it really really handy. Just yesterday I was out shooting, needed fill flash, PTTL couldn't handle it and the only option was to switch to full manual and bump the flash down to 1/16th. Very important IMO.

03-17-2008, 04:55 AM	#14
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by yeedub I have a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash and it does high-speed sync with my k10d, no problem. I can go way faster than just 1/180. In Av mode, though? Mine only worked in Tv and M mode (matching the K10D manual.)

03-17-2008, 06:48 PM	#15
DJey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 284 Original Poster	Thanks guys!